Carpenter s rule



L. C. STEPHENS, OF PINE MEAD OIV, CONNECTICUT.

CARPENTER S RULE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 19,105, dated January 12, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, L. C. STEPHENS, of Pine Meadow, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and improved article of manufacture, being an implement designed for joiners use, said implement being a combined rule, square, level, and bevel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1, is a side view of my improvement in a closed form, a portion of the ends being bisected longitudinally. Fig. 2, is a side view of ditto when used as a square or level. Fig. 3, is an edge view of ditto, in a distended state.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of an improved article of manufacture viz: a measuring rule having a spirit level and an adjustable movable blade attached, whereby an implement is obtained which may be used either as a rule, square, level or bevel or plumb the parts being so arranged they will not interfere with each other, and the implement when used in either capacity being equally as efficient as if it were made especially for one purpose only.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a jointed rule the edges of which are bound with metal, and B is a spirit tube or glass inserted in the outer edge of one of the legs (0-) of the rule. See Fig. 1. The tube or glass B is of the usual construction such as is commonly employed for spirit levels. In the end of the other leg (6) of the rule a metallic blade C is pivoted. This blade is graduated on one or both sides into inches and the fractional parts thereof, and the end of the plate is pivoted in a slot (0) which will allow the plate to be turned at a right angle with the leg (6) but will not allow it to extend beyond said angle. The opposite end of the leg ((4) is also slotted as shown at (d) Fig. 1, so as to allow the blade to fit therein, when the rule is closed, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to open the blade C, the rule must first be opened, or the legs (a) (1)) distended and the blade C moved out at a right angle with the leg The leg may then be closed against (6) as in Fig. 2. The blade C when the rule A is closed as shown in Fig. l, fits within a slot in the inner edge of the leg hen the blade C, is adjusted so as to be in the position shown in Fig. 2, a square is obtained, the blade C being perfectly firm. By throwing out the leg ((1,) the blade may be moved at varying angles with the leg (6) and the implement therefore may be used as a level. \Vhen the blade C, is moved out at right angles with the legs (a) (b) the implement may be used as plumb indic-ator, for the tube or glass B will indicate of course when the rule is in a horizontal po sition, and the blade C will then of course be in a vertical position.

One side of the blade of my rule is divided into degrees of a circle there being forty-five divisions which are numbered 5, 10, 15, 2O upward to 45.

By opening one of the legs of the rule upon the square blade until it reaches, say, the degree indicated by the figure 10, thenby bringing the side holding the glass to a level, we have an angle of ten degrees exactly.

In building a wall for instance, it will be readily seen how this instrument would indicate any angle or degree which might be required. In any number of places this article would be found very useful.

I do not claim any of the parts composing this instrument when viewed separately. But

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent as an improved article of manufacture A measuring rule made as set forth, viz: having a movable blade and spirit level attached thereto as described, the whole constituting an instrument which may be used either as a rule, square, level, bevel, plumb indicator, etc.

L. C. STEPHENS.

Vitnesses i I. M. BEMWICK, JARED B. Fos'rnn. 

